The dog bowl was still warm from the kitchen when I set it down in front of her. Leftover eggs. Torn pieces of toast. Something that had once been bacon, floating in cold grease.

The heavy oak front doors flew open, and six uniformed state troopers, accompanied by two detectives in trench coats, poured into the foyer. Leading them was District Attorney Vance—a man who had known my father and had watched me build my shipping line from scratch.

"Vittorio," Vance said, stepping into the breakfast room and assessing the scene in seconds.

"They're all yours, DA," I said, pointing to Arthur, Bianca, and Marcus. "The recorded confession is on this digital drive. The medical documents and bank records are on the table. Arthur just confessed to conspiracy in the murder of my wife, Clara."

Detective Miller stepped forward, pulling out three sets of steel handcuffs.

"Arthur Pendelton, Bianca Pendelton, Marcus Vance—you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, grand larceny, and child abuse," the detective read, snapping the cuffs onto Arthur’s wrists first.

Arthur didn't resist. He looked down at his polished shoes as he was led out into the pouring rain.

Bianca screamed as she was pulled up from the floor. "Vittorio! Please! Look at me! I loved you! I was forced into this by my father! Don't let them take me!"

I turned my back on her.

"Vittorio!" she shrieked as the officers dragged her toward the door. "You can't do this to me! I'm your wife!"

"The marriage was annulled fifteen minutes ago on grounds of fraud and ongoing criminal conspiracy," DA Vance said coldly, handing her attorney a stack of legal notices. "You're going to prison, Miss Pendelton."

Her screams faded as they shoved her into the back of a police cruiser.

Marcus was dragged out next, swearing under his breath and glaring at Geno, who merely smiled and waved as the door closed behind him.

The breakfast room fell dead silent again.

The overturned coffee pot was still leaking dark liquid onto the floor. The dog bowl sat untouched near the base of the dining table. The diamond engagement ring I had laid down hours ago sparkled under the chandelier light, cold and meaningless.

DA Vance placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "We've got them, Vittorio. Every single one of them. The blue ledger in Arthur's office will clear out the corruption at the port by sunset."

"Thank you, Jim," I said quietly.